We are very sorry to report the passing of dear Trevor Miners from Perranporth Patrol.
Trevor, who was 89 in January this year, died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of 4th April 2016 after a short illness.
In 1943 Trevor was 16 and was asked to sign the Official Secrets Act and found himself one of 3,500 volunteers recruited to the Auxiliary Units.
“We were sent to the Headquarters in Oxfordshire. We were trained to kill, how to use a knife to kill a man quietly. The plan was that when the invasion came our unit would hide in an underground bunker and let the Nazis roll over the top of us. Then after a month we were to come out at night and attack them, destroy their munitions dumps, railway lines, things like that.” Trevor explained to the BBC in 2013.
Trevor’s Operational Base was at Cligga Head near Perranporth.
Trevor Miners was told to say he was in the Home Guard when he joined the unit.
“We would never talk about what we were trained to do. One of my unit was even sent a white feather by someone who thought he was a coward for not going out to fight, but we knew different.”
Trevor Miners has been hugely influential in informing people of the Auxiliary Units existence and keeping the memory alive both within the South West and Nationwide.
He has told his story on TV on BBC Spotlight, Tales from the Snug, and WW2 Experience.
In 2013, 2014 and 2015 Trevor marched in London past the Cenotaph. “I wish my friends could be there with me,” he said.
In 2015 Trevor was asked to open a replica Observation Post at GHQ Coleshill. He then had another tour of the site he trained at and fired a Sten gun and Sniper rifle. All captured on video….
See our full report on his patrol and countless videos of the great man here.
Rest in Peace dear man and thank you for all you did and were prepared to do for us.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.
Please do add your memories of Trevor below or on our social media platforms and we will share with his family. The Facebook comments are just amazing….
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Trevor was a solid man. He represented a world we are never likely to see again. He personified the Auxiliary Units in his attitude to everything. He was strong, brave, determined and full of spirit and most of all good fun and the type of man you want on your team. I had the great honour to march with him in 2013 and show him around GHQ Coleshill last year and will never forget those moments. It’s thanks to men like Trevor, the late Bob Millard and all the great Auxiliers who are no longer with us that the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team (CART) has so many followers and such support. Thank you Trevor for giving us your time and being prepared to lay down your life when called. – Tom Sykes – CART Founder & Webmaster.
Such sad news – a really great guy he will be sorely missed. His presence on our marches at the Cenotaph made the day for all of us. He was one gutsy guy who would have given the Germans hell if they had invaded. We will remember him. – Bill Ashby – CART Coleshill.
Very sad to hear the news of Trevor’s passing. He was a great guy and it was a pleasure knowing him. I will always remember him crawling out the replica O.B. with a broad smile on his face. God bless him. – Roger Green – National Trust Coleshill Volunteer.
We’ll all miss his smile, sense of humour and cheerfulness on cold November mornings in London. But more than that, the nation has lost another brave and humble member who at a our country’s most testing hour stepped forward and was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Rest in peace Trevor. – Andy Chatterton – CART Press Officer.
A great loss to our heritage his story must live on, such sad news. Condolences to Trevor’s family x – Sam Dingley.
Unbelievable character so lucky to have met him his stories were something else especially hiding the weapons from his parents my thoughts go out to his family who also helped make the day. Ready to serve when called we will always be grateful for what you were willing to do. – Paul Jarvis.
It was a great pleasure to meet Trevor on two Cenotaph occasions; what a character! My condolences. – Hugh Frostick.
It was such a happy site Trevor firing the sten at Coleshill last year. I will remember that smile he had for years to come, made my weekend worthwhile. God rest you Trevor and condolences to his family – Ian Turton.
Such a lovely man. Always a funny story and a little laugh. I’ll always remember you telling me about the barrels of brandy washing up and how they ‘disappeared’ and how my dog stole your breakfast porridge still hot in the saucepan. Rest in peace. – Paul Wordley.
I’m so so sorry to read this. Such a lovely, humble man – it was a real privilege to meet him & hear his story. – Sarah Ransome (BBC TV South West).
A true gentleman and an honour to have known such a lovely man, rest in peace Trevor we all love you xx – Susanna Noonan.
Condolences to all at this sad time. Such a lovely man. – Patricia More Barnett.
What sad news, the word legend is bandied about too freely nowadays… Trevor was an absolute kind loving legend.. Will be sadly missed xx – John Mitchell.
Thank you Trevor. It was a amazing honour to have know you! Such a legend! – Jono Queen.
RIP Sir thank you for your service – Dave Wainwright.
RIP, brave Kernow warrior. – Jon Bartlett.
A true gentleman, an inspiration to me. My condolences to His family. R.I.P Trevor. – Tony Salter.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy. Godspeed Mr. Miners. – Jesse Hauskins.
An unsung hero gone from us, may you rest peacefully now Trevor, deepest gratitude and respect sir I salute you. – Neil Cox.
So sorry to learn of the passing of Trevor Miners. What a great person. It was an honour to meet him at Coleshill and talk with him about his Auxiliary experiences. Another Great Briton who will be sadly missed. – Bill King.
When I first met Trevor he was doing surf patrols when I joined the surf life saving club he was a founding member of, in 1993, and he was 66 back then. A great bloke, friend, legend, fun person to be around and a shining example to us all. R.I.P Mr Miners – Gary Perry.
It was a great honour to meet such a great gent. Sad news. – Martyn Allen.
I knew Trevor through the Surf Life Saving Club at Perranporth. He always had a smile, a chuckle and a friendly word for all, young and old. A wonderful character, often present with his side-kick in the club, Eric, tinkering with salt water challenged ancient Land Rovers, he will be sadly missed. Sending love to the Miners family; Rest in Peace dear man. – Jemma McNeill.
The volunteers at the BRO Museum were very sad to hear of Trevor’s passing. A number of us had met him at Parham and I had the opportunity to meet him again at Coleshill last September. He was always interesting to talk to and enjoyed talking to visitors of his time in the Aux Units. It is sometimes an overused phrase but he was a gentleman and of a generation that was prepared to stand up and be counted when the time came. May he rest in peace. – Chris Pratt Curator BRO Museum”.
READ THE EULOGY READ AT HIS FUNERAL HERE
PRESS:
The Telegraph (Web) The Telegraph (Print Version)
BBC Cornwall Article
BBC Devon Interview (Radio)
BBC Cornwall Interview (Radio)
